Music

Our Neon Reverb cheat sheet

Nine bands to see, from Most Thieves to Milk Music

The Downtown music fest returns for its 10th edition this week, and you won’t have to race all over town to take in the action. This time, it’s happening on four stages at two familiar venues: Beauty Bar and the Bunkhouse. Here are nine of our picks to help you get started, then visit neonreverb.com for a complete schedule.

Most Thieves

Most Thieves

From: Las Vegas

Put them on a playlist with: Imagine Dragons, The Killers, Snow Patrol

Go because: The Killers have handpicked them to open shows in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, and polished songwriter Eric Koch writes the sorts of songs you could hear on the radio sometime soon.

When: Thursday, March 21, 11 p.m., Beauty Bar

Acid Baby Jesus

Acid Baby Jesus

From: Athens, Greece

Put them on a playlist with: Black Lips, The Sonics, Brian Jonestown Massacre

Go because: Their twisted garage-pop caps off a globe-spanning Slovenly Recordings showcase that also features Amsterdam’s The Anomalys, Puerto Rico’s Los Vigilantes and Montreal’s Hellshovel.

Put them on a playlist with: The National, The Pogues, Blitzen Trapper

Go because: It’s the release show for the sound-expanding third album High Times on Lowly Streets. Also unveiling new discs at the fest: veteran cow-punkers The Clydesdale (on the same bill) and Brendan Scholz’s Mercy Music (Saturday at Beauty Bar).

When: Friday, March 22, 11 p.m., Bunkhouse

Caveman

Caveman

From: New York City

Put them on a playlist with: Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, The Shins

Go because: They’ve toured with Here We Go Magic and The War on Drugs, and their upcoming second album has breakout potential. See them before it gets expensive to.

When: Friday, March 22, 11:45 p.m., Beauty Bar

A Crowd of Small Adventures

A Crowd of Small Adventures

From: Las Vegas

Put them on a playlist with: Wolf Parade, Billy Bragg, Arcade Fire

Go because: Jackson Wilcox has a batch of interesting new tunes, and this show’s a great way to dip a toe into the local scene (the folky Dusty Sunshine, bluesy Same Sex Mary and hook-y Big Friendly Corporation are also on the bill).

Go because: You didn’t get enough of the punky bluegrass crew at Punk Rock Bowling, or never made it Downtown to see a band our reviewer said “burned up the stage like speed-punkers who’d pawned their electric instruments for rent money.”

When: Saturday, March 23, midnight, Beauty Bar

Rusty Maples

Rusty Maples

From: Las Vegas

Put them on a playlist with: The Shins, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Decemberists

Go because: They’re the Vegas band of the moment, touring their way back from South by Southwest and gearing up for an even bigger summer tour. This is your chance to catch ’em between road trips.

When: Sunday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Bunkhouse

Milk Music

Milk Music

From: Olympia, Washington

Put them on a playlist with: Dinosaur Jr., Metz, The Stooges

Go because: The fuzzy guitar-rockers have played Pitchfork Festival, toured with much-buzzed Iceage and have a new album out next month titled Cruise Your Illusion. Really.